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October 15, 2008

Kazmir to Start Game 5

It's something we thought about since prior to this thing beginning. Being in the position we're in, we like the idea of pitching him with the day off to follow. ...

We like the fact that [Kazmir is] pitching with an open day following, the ability to utilize the entire bullpen. We also like the idea of him pitching [at Fenway], and we like the idea of Shields being able to pitch at home, if necessary.

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Joe Maddon has bumped James Shields from Thursday's Game 5 start and will give the ball to Scott Kazmir, who will be pitching on four days rest.

16 comments:

That's interesting. Do you expect a counter-move by the Red Sox to bump Lester up to Game 6?

To me it seems like Maddon's looking at match-ups. Dice-K beat Tampa and Shields in Game 1... Beckett and Kazmir were similarly bad in Game 2, so putting Kazmir on Game 5 gives the Red Sox an excellent chance to win, but it also means matching Shields to Beckett in Game 6. Makes Game 6 a very very tough game to win.

I'm confident that Lester just had a bad night and will be back to playoff Lester in his next game, so an interesting decision indeed, and it makes you wonder what matchups for Game 6 and Game 7 you like best. Beckett/Shields 6 and Lester/Garza 7? Or Lester/Shields 6 and Beckett/Garza 7?

Did a little bit of research on the regular season between these two teams, in games started by at least one pitcher who will pitch in Games 5, 6, or 7. Here's how those six pitchers fared this season... (takes up space but I thought it'd be interesting to look at the numbers (innings/earned runs).

As bad as it may appear, I feel confident that the Sox can pick up the pieces and get back into this series. To me, the switch in Tampa's rotation is a bad move on Maddon's behalf; if the Boston bats, which have been downright frigid, get hot against Kazmir, that might be enough to swing momentum back in Boston's favor.

Swapping Beckett and Lester depends on Dice-K's start tomorrow - should he manage seven and the bullpen is used sparingly, that gives Francona the option to go to the bullpen early should Beckett appear out of sorts in his start. Then, if the Sox get back in the series, you have Lester ready to bounce back in the deciding Game 7.

SoSHer Kremlin Watcher:"There is only one explanation for these strange, totally non-strategic moves by Tito not to shift the rotation, and it seems likely it is due to something we just don't know. If past performance is a guide to future behavior, then we know Tito should be making moves to shake things up and go for the throat. Pitching an obviously injured and ineffective Beckett in game 6, risking burning the pen for game 7, just can't be driven by sheer stubbornness. There has to be something else there."

L-girl said... I sure hope that's the case, because Beckett shouldn't be starting Game 6.

If he can't start 6 , then he can't start 7 either . If he's hurt then he is hurt ...just scratch him alltogether, they were both garbage , whats the difference, they both need to be themselves if we want to win.....We have to play a game 7 if we want to win this thing so Beckett will pitch in game 6 and get us there...that's all...

I am little shocked Maddon fucked with his rotation, I hope it bites him in the ass.........and enough of Big Game James, has he ever pitched in a big game outside of High School.?

If he can't start 6 , then he can't start 7 either . If he's hurt then he is hurt ...just scratch him alltogether, they were both garbage , whats the difference, they both need to be themselves if we want to win.....

The difference is if we don't win game 6, there is no game 7, so we have to go with our best shot. That is usually Lester. He was off his game in this series, obviously, but he's not injured (that we know of). You can't play or manage 2 games ahead at this point. Win one, then go from there.